Tongue-tied in book distribution

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Book Distribution Tongue-tied Last year, the bus party of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir went to Andhra Pradesh. A devotee recalls from his diary about the experience: We tried to get permission in a thermal power plant that had 3000 workers. Typically we give out a set of books on credit and then the company deducts the amount from the salary and sends us the money by DD or check. But here things were difficult. Although everyone we met was favorable they expressed their

inability to help us. “This is a government organization,” they said, “and you are a religious institution. We cannot extend this facility to you. The government is secular and so our hands are tied.” It was ironic that in a land where Gita was spoken, the leaders are scornful towards the Vedic wisdom and don't want to promote it. Anyway we tried and at least managed to get permission for setting a stall near their main market complex. But the problem was the language. We had only two devotees who could speak the native Telugu language. The rest of us were reduced to helpers, who packed the books and counted the laxmi. The mood was dull and unenthusiastic. People came to the market and walked away without even coming to the stall. Someone had to go out to them. “But what to speak?” was the question. Then Garuda Prabhu, our driver, just rose up to the challenge. Grabbing an armload of books he dashed to the road and went straight to a

man who had just parked his bike. He gestured animatedly as we watched him and soon he returned with the man holding a Gita in one hand and Laxmi in another. “What did you speak?” a devotee asked with open mouth. “Ha!” Garuda Prabhu laughed, “What I spoke he could not understand, and what he spoke I did not understand. He said something and I said, “Yes, yes. This is the price (in Telugu). And he bought.” This tactic sparked fire in everyone's hearts and the atmosphere became lively and active. We began calling out, shouting at top of our lungs. The Telugu devotees stood at either end of the long table and began to speak non-stop about the books. Others fanned out and brought prospective customers to the table. There was an obvious buzz of enthusiasm and we were smiling and inviting people. Someone went to the bus-stop close to the stall and simply shouted, “Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Gita. Discount price,” and brought many prospective

customers. Garuda Prabhu, on the other hand, was in his best elements. He picked up some local words and convinced many to buy the books. Overall it was an inspiring experience. We had a good sale and came out convinced that if really are serious and committed to give this transcendental knowledge, nothing can stop us. Even if we don't know the words, Lord Krishna will empower us to deliver the message. Srila Prabhupada: Everyone will understand. Hare Krishna. That is proved. We are going to Africa . We are going to Canada , Europe, America . Everyone chants Hare Krishna. That is the language. When a young man and young woman love one another, there is no question of language. My Guru Maharaj used to say that "Suppose you are in a foreign country. You do not know the language. But when there is fire, you get friends without any language." You see? Srila Prabhupada transcendental Book Distribution ki Jai

!!If any devotee wants to share his experiences he can contact H.G. SriChaitanya Prabhu, H.G. Narottam Prabhu or H.G. Murari Gupta Prabhu

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